VC Rocks BLOG HOP!!

HEY EVERYONE! Welcome to the first VC Rocks blog hop of the season!!


You should have arrived here from the awesome
Brenda's Stamping Corner- http://www.brendasstampingcorner.blogspot.com/,
but if you've stumbled upon my blog from somewhere else, you'll want to start at the beginning: http://www.vcrocks.blogspot.com/.



After you've checked out my blog, please subscribe or click follow to be entered in my drawing for some awesome BLOG CANDY. I'm giving away a collection of color-coordinated Stampin' Up! products, designed to help you with all your card-making and scrapbooking projects. Also, leave a comment on THIS post to be eligible for a special VC Rocks BLOG HOP prize!



So...my blog hop project for you this weekend is a paper bag album. You've probably seen them before (this particular version came from Candace Anderson), but I thought it would be a cute end-of-the-school-year gift for my oldest daughter who is 12. She's all about friends and social activity, plus this is her first year of middle school, so what better than her own little place to collect all her memories?

Here are some pictures: sorry for the poor quality...between the lighting and my older-than-dirt camera, things just weren't working out for me today!

















This album has 10 pages where she can put pictures, journaling, or whatever she likes. Plus it also has 3 slide-out pages (last photo) with more photo mattes on the front and back of each-essentially, 6 more pages for memory keeping!
I used a retired Simply Scrappin' Kit to complete this project because I wanted it to suit my daughter's particular style, but there are many Simply Scrappin' Kits available in a variety of themes, with new ones surely coming in the new catalog in July!

Let me know what you think...and don't forget to leave me a comment! Winner will be drawn by random.org on Monday, May 17!



OK...you're next stop on the hop is right here: http://www.stampinldyglfr62.blogspot.com/
ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

Business Card Holders and other Creations!

Ok..so as some of you may know, I've joined a wonderful group of ladies who call themselves the "Late Night Stampers" on the Stampin' Up! demo only website Stampin' Connection. The leader of the LNS group, Sherrill Graff also does a "Boot Camp" of sorts to help new demonstrators (and old ones who wanna brush up on things) some helpful tips to build your business. It's a series of assignments which help to put you on a more constructive track. One of the assignments is to make some small, simple cards that can hold a business card and then over the course of your normal daily or weekly routine, distribute these business builders to your friends, neighbors and associates. I finally got my business cards ordered and my cards made...can't wait for the business cards to arrive! Tell me what you guys think:

Supplies Used:

Stamps-Hello Again

Paper-Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White;

Ink-Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green;

Accessories- Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Bigs Clear Scallop Square Die, buttons from my stash

OTHER CREATIONS

THESE CARDS ARE 2 VERY NEAR EXACT CASES FROM THE SUMMER MINI CATALOG.
I usually try to make several of the cards or projects featured in the catalogs if for no other reason but to show my customers that those projects CAN in fact be completed by a regular person like you or I. I had someone ask me once "Why do they show such complicated samples that only professional Stampin' Up! gurus could make? I wanna see some stuff REAL people can do!"

This is my swap card for one of my upline meetings this month: we were asked to use something from the new Summer Mini Catalog.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Elements of Style

Paper: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, VersaMark (for embossing)

Accessories: Bigz Top Note Die, Big Shot, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, Designer Label Punch, 5/8" Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Smoosh Spritz (Log Cabin), Spritzer Tool with Chocolate Chip Stamp N Write Marker, Stampin' Dimensionals, Pop Up Glue Dots, Mini Glue Dots

Another Summer Mini Catalog CASE-VERY EASY TO DO! I thought this card might be tricky to get the measurements right because it's a different size than I normally make, but it was quite possibly the easiest card I've ever made.

Supplies Used:


Stamps: Kind and Caring Thoughts


Paper: Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Ruby Red


Ink: VersaMark, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie Marker

Accessories: Crop a Dile and grommets, Paper Piercer and Mat Pack, 5/8" Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon


The next card I have for you is one I whipped up today for the CropStop National Scrapbooking Day BlogHop Challenge. If you'd like to participate, hop on over to http://www.cropstop.com/ .

Thanks for reading! Please leave me a comment or suggestion!

Organization Progress!

Hello all! I have LOTS of stuff for you today. An update on my cleaning out and organizing-some progress! My new business card holders-just waiting on the business cards to arrive so I can send them out. And last, but not least, some new cards I've made. Enjoy...and don't forget to leave me a comment!

First up-for those of you following my organization-I have good news! If you look closely, you can see part of the table underneath my junk, er, um, my crafting supplies.

Now, it may look like I just moved some stuff around to show you the table underneath, but take a look at all the stuff I've removed from the table and organized...

These hold all my 12 x 12 materials, like Cardstock, Designer Series Paper, and Simply Scrappin' Kits.

These are my (relatively) new paper trolleys. I ordered them from my local craft store while they were on sale. I have 6 of them, which gives me 60 drawers that hold 8 1/2 x 11 materials. That's plenty of space for all my Stampin' Up! colored cardstock, plus a few extra drawers which I use to store things like printed templates and tutorials, my Stampin' Success magazines, and past catalogs that I use for inspiration. There's also space on top for things...but I haven't decided for sure what I'm going to keep up there yet.

This is a box of stamp sets that I have rounded up and cleaned all the stamps to and put them in their cases. I had loose stamps EVERYWHERE...this is nowhere near all the sets I had out. The second box is some new stamp sets that have come in but haven't even been mounted yet. There's also some alterable items in there-tins and such.

Ok, I'll be back in a few hours with a couple more posts...I have some new creations to show you!

Kind & Caring Birthday

Hello there,


Today has been an absolutely beautiful day here in Northern Virginia. So beautiful that I was able to sit outside and watch my kiddos play for about 3 hours, and since I have ZERO tolerance for heat or humidity, that is saying something!


What I have for you today is a couple pics of a gift I made for a neighbor who's birthday get-together is this weekend. It is a simple set of cards, using some fun, bright colors, and then paired with a lunch-box style tin that I picked up at my local craft store and altered to match the cards. Now, I wanted to make this card square, but I also wanted them to be able to be mailed, so that means they had to be at least 4x4. In concentrating too much on them being mail-able, I ended up making them too big to allow the tin to close. Oh well..it's decorative anyway, so I hope she doesn't mind sitting it on her desk with the cards peeking out a little bit.


So, please leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Supplies used:
Paper: Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry and Whisper White cardstock; Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper

Stamps: Kind & Caring Thoughts (Level 3 Hostess Set)

Ink: Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry

Accessories: Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini-Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

$4000.00 in Stamping Supplies

Hey guys...I wanted to let everyone know about some amazing prizes and giveaways through a group I've been following and having fun with. If you think you'll be going to convention, consider signing up for one or more of her pre-convention activities...they're sure to be loads of fun. Here is the post she has on her websites and blog (they say "I", but it's coming from her...I'm not the one giving this awesome stuff away, she is). So...check it out...

Going to Stampin' Up! Convention 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah? ... think about this :)

Prizes, prizes, and more prizes!!!! Late Night Stampers... WANTS YOU!!!

If you are going to Stampin' Up! Convention this year, 2010, consider going early. Join the Late Night Stampers -- which is FREE! -- and join us at the following pre-Convention events. Love them! To learn more about joining, click below or copy and paste:

http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/LNSDemoOnly/

Plan to attend Stampin Up Convention 2010 with us on July 21-24, 2010 at Salt Lake City, Utah! OUR LNS events start on Monday July 19th and end on Saturday July 24th with Patsy's WOW event after convention is over.

$180 gives you the "I want it all package"or you can pick from the events below
Send your payment to istmpnv@aol.com using pay pal or mail a check to:
Sherrill Graff
605 Kendrick PlaceBoulder City NV 89005
if you are sending a check e-mail Sherrill at istmpnv@aol.com and let her know so she can hold your spot.

Monday July 19th will be a 8:30 AM stamp camp 8 great projects $90 FULL

• we supply everything except adhesive

Monday 2 PM shoe box swap $35 OPEN

• please bring a project to share with 6 people and a finished project to enter into the contest

Monday Night 7 PM WOWevent by Tami $10 OPEN

• we need 3 more wow demonstrators to show their stuff.
  
• please e-mail istmpnv@aol.com ASAP
  
• bring your camera and a note pad

The WOW demonstrations are different on both days.

Tuesday July 20th will be a 8:30 AM stamp camp 8 great projects $90 OPEN

followed by

Tuesday 2 PM shoe box swap $35 FULL

• please bring a project to share with 6 people and a finished project to enter into the contest

Tuesday Night 7 PM Reunion party 3 fun projects$35 FULL

• we supply everything except adhesive

Wednesday July 21 Anything New Swap 75+1 at the Radisson behind Convention on sign in day

Wednesday Sign In Day 2pm-4pm Shoe Box Swap Hosted by Mary and Brenda $35 OPEN

• please bring a project to share with 6 people and a finished project to enter into the contest

Saturday July 24th 6 PM WOW event by Patsy $10 OPEN

• bring your camera and a note pad

NOTEWORTHY THINGS:

While Stamp Camp projects will be the same Monday and Tuesday, the WOW demonstrations are different on both days.

All events have prizes and give-a-ways.

ALL LNS EVENTS ARE HELD AT THE RADISSON.

May God bless you and your family,Sherrill Graff istmpnv@aol.com

Someone WORKS Here??

Ok..so I promised a while back that I would post before and after pictures of my disastrous workspace...so here's the before pics.

Now...let me tell you how this happened...I actually HAVE a craft room in my basement. However, it is oddly shaped, not very big, and it's IN THE BASEMENT. That means that every time the doorbell rings (with more Stampin' Up! deliveries usually), or if I need something to drink, or if the kids wake up early from nap, I have to go up and back down the stairs. Not so much fun for me. So I find myself saying "I need to go downstairs and work on {insert pending or past due project here}, but ugh, I don't want to work down there." So I started out just going down and getting what I needed for a particular project (my monthly swap cards). That continued with each new project until now...I have almost as many supplies upstairs all over the dining room, as I have in the CRAFT room. I'm hoping if I organize it and straighten it up, that my husband will not make me go back to the craft room in the dungeon. Sooo...I hafta HAFTA get organizing. OK...so prepare yourselves...this could get ugly!

Yay! Followers!

Hey there!

Just checkin' in and dropping you guys all a note to say Thanks! I'm excited that in 2 days I've gotten 15 new followers! You guys are great, and I can't wait to see who wins the first giveaway.

My upline meeting last night was great, as always and I wanted to show you guys the results of the swap. I'm always amazed at the creativity of others and how other stampers think to use something in a totally different way than I ever thought of.

So here was my swap card that I made:

And here are a few of the ones I got back from other ladies on my team-aren't they GO-GEOUS! (to use one of Jan Tink's favorite words)

Keep checking back to see what's new....and watch for the giveaway! At this rate, I may reach 50 followers this week!!

BLOG CANDY!!

Happy Monday Everyone! (Well, I guess it's already Tuesday here...)

Hope your week has gotten off to an amazing start! I'm just here with a quick post to let you all know that I am going to give away some fabulous blog candy! Yup...you got it-FREE STUFF!

All you have to do to win is sign up to follow or subscribe to my blog! It's that easy!

There will be two separate drawings/giveaways...

First when I reach 50 followers, I will draw a random follower/subscriber's name and send them a care package full of wonderful stamping and scrapbooking supplies. These supplies will be a variety of supplies in one of our beloved Fond Farewell colors. Especially since it will be in a retiring color, I will give the winner the choice of which color they would like their stuff in. We all have our favorites, but our favorites may not all be the same, right?? So...this is an opportunity for you to stock up on whichever color is your go-to...before it's long gone. Sound good? Good! Now keep reading-there's MORE!!

The second giveaway will be done the same way when I reach 100 followers/subscribers. The only difference is: IT WILL BE A PACKAGE OF SUPPLIES IN A "HERE TO STAY" COLOR!! The winner will again get to choose which color they would like their package to be in...

AS AN ADDED BONUS:

EACH TIME I DRAW A WINNER'S NAME, IF THEY LEFT ME A COMMENT WHEN THEY SIGNED UP...

THEY WILL RECEIVE SOMETHING AMAZING IN A BRAND-NEW, NEVER BEFORE SEEN COLOR!!

That's right...so please-join me on my journey, but also don't forget to leave a comment...I mean, if you're gonna win free stuff, why not win all you can win, right??

I can't wait to start reading your comments and to see who the first winner will be!

Spring is HERE!

Hey everyone!

Hope everyone had an AWESOME Spring Break and is excited at the prospect of summer! I'm excited for a couple reasons:

1. Summer means warm weather opportunities for family activities and fun get-togethers with friends...and you know what that means-more things to scrapbook and more occasions to make cards!

2. Summer also means a new Summer Mini Catalog AND the new BIG catalog comes out in July! Can't wait!

If you haven't already received your new Summer Mini catalog in your mailbox, please respond to this email and I will send you one absolutely FREE.

There are a lot of exciting changes and plenty of new things coming down the pike at Stampin' Up! and I would love to share all of them with you! Please check out my new blog at

http://www.scrappin-for-sanity.blogspot.com/

(bear with me as I get it up and running...it's kinda sparse right now.)

SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

1. Stampin' Up! has announced a fantastic realignment of their color families, and some of our "always there" colors will be retiring in June...so you'll want to stock up on these fabulous products before they're gone! Email me if you'd be interested in purchasing or earning specially coordinated kits to help you stock up! The kits include designer paper, card stock, ink pads, reinkers, and ribbon that will soon be UNAVAILABLE!!!

2. I have a few dates left in April and May if you'd like to host a workshop with me. Hosting a workshop is fun and easy (you don't have to actually DO anything but invite your friends) and you earn FREE stamps and scrapbooking supplies. Who doesn't like FREE, right?

PLUS: ANYONE WHO BOOKS A WORKSHOP WITH ME DURING APRIL OR MAY GETS A FREE GIFT TO HELP THEM GET STARTED WITH THEIR SUMMER PROJECTS!! So don't wait! BOOK NOW!!

Can't wait to hear from you guys...send me a quick email or leave me a comment on my blog to let me know you were here!

I almost kissed the FedEx guy...

Hey everyone!

So I hope you all had a fantabulous Spring Break and are looking forward to Easter. The kids and I are headed up to the Crayola Factory in PA for a quick weekend trip since we didn't really do any other vacation or trips during Spring Break. I'm hoping to leave by 7am, but it is after 2am already and I'm still sitting here, so we'll see...

OK...I am soo excited to tell you guys that my rolling paper storage carts arrived yesterday! Yay!! I was so thrilled I almost kissed the FedEx guy. I love how they're always willing to carry the heavy boxes inside and put them where you want them-unlike my mail carrier who drop kicks everything from the curb. :)

Anyhow...they each have 10 drawers, and I got 6 of them...so I can put all my 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock in them. I've read mixed reviews about these trolleys, so wish me luck!

Additionally, I thought I'd post a recent project for you guys to check out while you're waiting on me to get my booty in gear and make some new stuff. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Here ya go:

This is a tin I picked up at my local craft store and altered for my neighbor's birthday. I used Cottage Wall Designer Paper from Stampin' Up! as well as Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive cardstock. The word "faith" is one of Stampin' Up's Decor Elements. It actually comes in a set with 4 words "faith", "love", "hope", and "life", and comes in several different colors. I've used the black ones here. The ribbon is whisper white organza and satin ribbon-one of my faves, and definitely my go-to. I also used the new "Beautiful Butterflies" Embosslit for the embellishments on the front. I love that thing...in one trip through the Big Shot, it punches out and embosses 5, yes FIVE butterflies in different sizes and textures. I have to say it's the most versatile embosslit yet. Finally, I added some half-pearls to the butterflies to dress things up a bit.

Inside the tin, is a set of general purpose cards with envelopes, an easel calendar, and of course a pen. The cards also feature the Cottage Wall Designer paper, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive Cardstock and butterflies from the Beautiful Butterflies embosslit. I have also used Stampin' Up! rub-ons and the Whisper White taffeta ribbon here. I like this ribbon a lot because it adds an elegant touch to things, so I use it when I want a narrower ribbon, but don't want to use grosgrain.

Here's a quick peek at the easel calendar. I got this idea from one of my upline meetings. Of course I used the same Designer paper and cardstock colors to keep everything matching, and you can get those little tiny calendars online for next to nothing. If you can't tell what that is at the bottom, it's a binder clip covered in cardstock. That is what makes the calendar stand up. The binder clips are a little bit finicky though, so sometimes I fold the back clasp of it down to kind of prop it up. And one last note: the butterfly at the top of this is the largest butterfly created by the Beautiful Butterflies embosslit.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my project...Don't forget to leave me a comment, and I'll be back to post another project after I've seen the Crayola Factory. Woohoo...roadtrip, here we come!